Bear claws: how to save them?

[Spug]

I shot a bear last fall and would like to save the claws. After butchering it I was too exhausted so I cut the paws off and put them in my freezer.

Anyone have an idea how to get them off the paws? I had thought about c-clamping them still frozen to a sawhorse and using a sawzall, but didn't get to it over the winter when it was nice and cold. Is that a viable method? I don't know what I'll do with them, maybe drill and string them like on a necklace (more likely to hang on my wall than around my neck), or maybe just keep them in a bowl when they're clean and dry.

Is it worth the effort? Does anyone else save them?

 

[burrhead]

Google is your friend. https://goneoutdoors.com/preserve-bear-claws-6794428.html

 

[Spug]

Google is your friend.

No, it isn't. Thanks anyway.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I shot a bear last fall and would like to save the claws. After butchering it I was too exhausted so I cut the paws off and put them in my freezer.

Anyone have an idea how to get them off the paws? I had thought about c-clamping them still frozen to a sawhorse and using a sawzall, but didn't get to it over the winter when it was nice and cold. Is that a viable method? I don't know what I'll do with them, maybe drill and string them like on a necklace (more likely to hang on my wall than around my neck), or maybe just keep them in a bowl when they're clean and dry.

Is it worth the effort? Does anyone else save them?

The claw is simply the last joint of the finger/toe. No C clamps or saws needed, thaw out paws and find the joint that makes up the claw and disarticulate the joint with a knife and the claw pops right off. It’s super easy to do and there is no drying or curing needed.

Using a saw will actually make a mess of the claws, don’t do that.

BTW burrhead posted a link for that perfectly explains what I just talked about. Maybe take a look.

 

[Spug]

The claw is simply the last joint of the finger/toe. No C clamps or saws needed, thaw out paws and find the joint that makes up the claw and disarticulate the joint with a knife and the claw pops right off. It’s super easy to do and there is no drying or curing needed.

Using a saw will actually make a mess of the claws, don’t do that.

BTW burrhead posted a link for that perfectly explains what I just talked about. Maybe take a look.

Thanks, H&H

 

[caribou]

H&Hhunter nailed it...LOL!


If you want to keep 'em a long time, dry them a bit.
Mostly bone, thin and small, they will dry anyways.....you can dry the claw with hair on it, theres very little flesh or fat under the skin there and they should dry up nicely.
Then you can clean them by scraping with a knife and drill a hole through the bone for string, etc.

Bear Paw soup is excellent, with chives and carrots.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Using a sharp pointed knife you should be able to get into the joint where the claw connects to the bones. It can be a little tricky. After the first few you will figure it out.

When you get them off, scrape off what gristle you can, and then put them in a baggie of borax and leave them there for a few weeks. Shake the bag up a bit whenever you can/every day or so. You can add some finely ground salt to the mix, if you have a wheat grinder or something like that.

After they have been in the bag long enough, (leave the bag open) I put them on a paper plate, along with some borax, in a dry place and let them dry some more. I stir them around once in a while.

When they seem nice and dry then scrape some more with a razor blade, exacto-knife, whatever works for you. If they are still damp they can fall apart/come apart, so get them good and dry.

I'll post some pics of the claws I have done.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Cougar claw on the left, bear claw on the right. I called the cougar in, the bear I wounded and had to go into the brush after it. Great memories.



Those are some more bear claws that have not had their final scraping. When done be sure to coat them with clear nail polish. Let them dry and then give them a second coat. If anyone ever tells you to boil them, never talk to that person again. Where the top of the claw joins that piece of bone, those can separate if the claws are not completely dry when you start to work with them. (scraping/cleaning) Good luck and congrats on your bear!

By the way, I wouldn't expect the claws to just "pop off"! (no offense to H&H) Sure glad you didn't try to saw them off. Hey, I wear my necklaces in public sometimes, I'm weird like that, but people are very interested and ask me about them. On the other hand, some people kind of "back off", or act a little "uncomfortable", which is fine with me.

 

[Bazoo]

Ugly, cool man thanks for sharing. Do you do anything different to the cat claws? I’m going to take a bobcat some day and I think that would be a good memory. I’m thinking a hatband.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Right on, good plan. A hatband would be great swag. I didn't do anything different with the cat-claws, but they were way harder to get off the paw. Super tough tissue holding them things on. I thought the bear was much easier.